Harry Reasoner Quotes

Powerful Harry Reasoner for Daily Growth

About Harry Reasoner

Harry Reasoner, born on August 9, 1923, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was an esteemed American journalist, newscaster, and television personality. His career spanned over five decades, making significant contributions to the field of broadcast journalism. Reasoner's passion for storytelling and journalism began at an early age. He started his career in radio while still a student at Kalamazoo College. After serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to journalism, working as a radio news announcer and later moving into television news. In 1960, Reasoner joined ABC News and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a correspondent for "ABC Weekend News" and later anchoring "The Nightly News." His reporting during the Vietnam War earned him recognition and respect within the journalism community. One of his most notable achievements was co-anchoring ABC's "Nightly News" with Howard K. Smith from 1968 to 1970, a position he then shared with Peter Jennings until 1983. During this time, Reasoner also served as the primary anchor for ABC's coverage of the Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Reasoner's other significant works include his role as a correspondent on "60 Minutes" from 1978 to 1986, where he conducted memorable interviews with notable figures such as Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, and Fidel Castro. Harry Reasoner passed away on July 26, 1991, leaving behind a rich legacy in journalism. His work ethic, professionalism, and commitment to truthful reporting continue to inspire a new generation of journalists. Notable quotes from Harry Reasoner include, "The essence of journalism is a disciplined skepticism, an independence of mind, a faculty for experiencing wonder, and a balanced concern for human welfare," and "What you learn is that the truth can hurt. And sometimes it's better to leave well enough alone."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." - (A reference to Shakespeare's Henry VI, often misattributed to Reasoner)

This quote, although originally from Shakespeare's play "Henry VI," is sometimes mistakenly attributed to Harry Reasoner. In the context of the play, Dick the Butcher utters these words in a scene where rebels are discussing how to establish order. The phrase can be interpreted as a call for elimination of anyone who may impede the rebels' power or disrupt their plans, metaphorically speaking. However, it is important to note that such a sentiment has no place in civilized societies and is detrimental to the rule of law, which is essential for justice and order.


"In the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

This quote highlights the importance of living a meaningful and fulfilling life rather than merely counting the number of years one has lived. Essentially, Reasoner suggests that the true value in life comes from the experiences, achievements, relationships, and memories we create throughout our lifetime. It encourages individuals to make each year count by pursuing passions, learning, growing, and making a positive impact on others.


"The great secret of a successful life is to go on a permanent pilgrimage, no matter where you are."

Harry Reasoner's quote emphasizes the importance of living a life with a sense of purpose, growth, and self-discovery, even if one remains in their current location. The idea is that personal development and fulfillment can be achieved through continuous learning and seeking, regardless of physical surroundings. In essence, it encourages us to treat every day as a journey towards self-improvement and understanding, maintaining an open mind and receptive spirit throughout our lives.


"There is nothing more exhilarating than to have a chip on one's shoulder and to be able to back it up."

The quote suggests that having a sense of challenge or proving oneself, embodied by a "chip on one's shoulder," can lead to an exciting and fulfilling experience if the individual possesses the skills or abilities to validate their stance. This sentiment implies that overcoming obstacles or challenges provides a heightened level of personal satisfaction and empowerment. However, it's important to note that while this mindset can be motivational, it's crucial to ensure that one's actions align with principles of respect and integrity.


"It's an old maxim of my business that if the camera sees you sweat, so does New York."

This quote highlights the power of television as a medium to transmit emotions and reactions instantly to viewers, anywhere in the world. If a person appears nervous or anxious during a broadcast, the audience will perceive this, even if it's thousands of miles away. The "old maxim" suggests that this immediacy of perception adds an extra level of pressure and scrutiny for those working on live television.


The thing is helicopters are different from airplanes An airplane by it's nature wants to fly, and if not interfered with too strongly by unusual events or incompetent piloting, it will fly.

- Harry Reasoner

Nature, Will, Incompetent, Airplane

Statistics are to baseball what a flaky crust is to Mom's apple pie.

- Harry Reasoner

Baseball, Mom, Apple, Apple Pie

If you're a good journalist, what you do is live a lot of things vicariously, and report them for other people who want to live vicariously.

- Harry Reasoner

Want, Other, Them, Report

Journalism is a kind of profession, or craft, or racket, for people who never wanted to grow up and go out into the real world.

- Harry Reasoner

Grow, Kind, Profession, Journalism

When 25 percent of the population believe the President should be impeached and 51 percent of the population believe in UFOs, you may or may not need a new President, but you definitely need a new population.

- Harry Reasoner

New, Need, May, Impeached

We're all controlled neurotics.

- Harry Reasoner

Controlled, Neurotics

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